Harness-saddle.



No. 672,345. Patented Apr. l6, l90l. T. B. ASHFORD. v

HARNESS SADDLE.

(Applicatiom filed kNov. 20, 1900.

(N0 Model.)

UNITED STATES aren't tribe.

THOMAS B. ASHFORD, OF KINSTON, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES W.BLANCHARD AND HENRY D. HARPER, SR., OF SAME PLACE, AND EDWIN B. ISLER,OF JONES COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA.

HARNESS SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,345, dated April16, 1901.

Application filed November 20, 1900- Serial No. 37,161. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS B. ASHFORD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kinston,in the county of Lenoir and State of North Carolina,have invented new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Saddles, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to harness-saddles; and the object of the same isto produce a device of this character which will be provided with meansfor relieving the saddle of the strain resulting from the chafing of thechains thereon and that rocking motion so injurious to the horses backthereby prohibited. The

[5 novel construction designed by me, by which this object is attained,is fully described and claimed in this specification and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which- Figure 1 isan end view of my improved saddle. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail of oneof the hinges. Fig. 5 is a perspective of one of the bearing-blocks.

Like numerals of reference designate like parts in the different viewsof the drawings.

The numeral 1 designates the pads of my saddle, which pads are roundedon their under faces in the usual manner.

In order to make up the saddletree, arms 2 are secured centrally theupper edges of the saddle and are hinged to straps 3. The straps 3 areeach provided with a series of apertures 4, which are constructed toregis- 3 5 ter. By inserting a bolt 5 through two of the holes 4 thestraps 3 are firmly clamped together. The width of the tree maybechanged by choosing diiferent pairs of the holes and a wide range ofadjustment thereby obtained. The hinges which connect the arms 2 and thestraps 3 are each composed of two members 6, apertured at 7 and providedwith radially ribbed faces 8. A bolt 9, fitted with a thumbscrew 10,serves to clamp the faces 8 together, but permits them to be adjustedrelatively to each other and the angle of the tree changed to suit thecontour of the horses back.

Mounted transversely of the pads l are bearing-blocks 11, which blocksare grooved at 12 to accommodate the back-chains 13, and each has anintegral dovetailed foot 14 thereon. By means of these feet 14 theblocks 11 are slidingly mounted in dovetailed grooves 15. Rollers 16,seated in the bottom of the groove, serve to lessen the friction of theblocks 11 against the pad 1. By this construction the chafing motion ofthe chains 13 is taken up by the blocks and the rocking of the saddleprevented. The grooves 15 do not extend clear across the pads, asintegral portions 17 remain,which serve to limit the movement of theblocks 11 therein.

I do not wish to be limited as to details of construction, as these maybe modified in many particulars without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having described my invention, what I claim'as new, and wish to secureby Letters Patent, is-

A harness-saddle comprising the pads having dovetailed groovestherein,bearing-blocks slidingl y mounted and having dovetailed feetthereon fitting said dovetailed grooves, and rollers seated in saidgrooves.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

THOMAS B. ASHFORD.

Witnesses:

BENNETT S. J ONES, L. L. BURKET.

